Omega fatty acids are essential for young children’s growth and development. They also have essential functions in cell receptors of membranes and regulation of hormones synthesis. Essential fatty acids such as omega-3 and -6 can only be obtained through food mainly fish and other seafood and to a lesser extent through nuts, seeds, and plant oils. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2023
• January 2023

Evidence suggests consumption of a Mediterranean diet (MD) can positively impact both maternal and offspring health, potentially mediated by a beneficial effect on inflammatory pathways. We aimed to apply metabolic profiling of serum and urine samples to assess differences between women who were stratified into high and low alignment to a MD throughout pregnancy and investigate the relationship of the diet to inflammatory markers.   ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2023
• December 2023

Interventions to promote breakfast consumption are a popular strategy to address early life inequalities. It is important to understand the epidemiology of children and adolescents who skip breakfast so that interventions and policy can be appropriately considered. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2022
• April 2022

We examined whether caregivers of children/adolescents enroled in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a family-centred intervention indirectly achieved reductions in body mass index (BMI), and if these were associated with changes in their children’s BMI. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2022
• April 2022

Family-based lifestyle interventions (FBLIs) are an important method for treating childhood weight problems. Despite being recognized as an effective intervention method, the optimal structure of these interventions for children’s overweight and obesity has yet to be determined. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2022
• August 2022

There are limited methods to assess how dietary patterns adhere to a healthy and sustainable diet. The aim of this study was to develop a theoretically derived Healthy and Sustainable Diet Index. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2022
• September 2022

Energy drinks (EDs) are not recommended for minors' consumption due to a myriad of health risks, but marketing initiatives persist. This study explored the promotion of EDs on TikTok, a platform frequented by children and adolescents. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2022
• December 2022

This review elaborates on biochemical characteristics, in vivo metabolism, biological conversion through UV irradiation, as well as dietary fortification of vitamin D. Recent innovations in vitamin D utilization, including nanoencapsulation, direct or indirect addition, emulsion, ultrasound, microwave processing, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, as well as UV photoconversion, were summarized. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2023
• Jun 2023

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a component of neural tissue. Because its accretion into the brain is greatest during the final trimester of pregnancy, infants born before 29 weeks' gestation do not receive the normal supply of DHA. The effect of this deficiency on subsequent cognitive development is not well understood. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2022
• October 2022

The early years is a critical stage to establish optimal nutrition and movement behaviours. Community playgroups are a relaxed environment for parents with a focus on social connection and supporting parents in their role as 'First Teachers'. Playgroups are therefore an opportunistic setting to promote health behaviours in the early years. ...

• 1. Telethon Kids Institute
• Our research
• Reports and Findings
• 2024
• March 2024